Luggage carrier



April .15 1924.

M. E. POST ET AL I LUGGAGE CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed Oct. 5. 1922 MARSHALL E. POST AND ALBERT H. LAUER, OF SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA.

LUGGAGE CARRIER.

Application filed Gctober 3, 1922. Serial No. 592,088.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that. MARSHALL E. Posr and ALBERT H. Lanna, citizens of the United States, and residing in the city of Sharon, in the county of hilercer and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered the new, useful. and Improved Luggage (larrier, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention consists in a new and improved running board luggage carrier for automoliiiles.

One of the objects which we have in view is the provision of a device for this purpose in which a trunk may be carried in a vertically disposed position on a running board, securely held in place in such a manner as to give proper clearance for passing vehicles and other obstacles.

Another object which we have in View is the provision of such a carrier in which the luggage may be quickly and conveniently installed. and from which the same may be as quickly and conveniently removed.

Another object which we have in view is. the provision of a luggage carrier which, when not in use, may be left in place without interfering with the use of the adjacent entrance door.

To attain these purposes we have devised a luggage carrier which. presents the following general characteristics. A base member or cradle, adapted to receive the end of the trunk when the latter is disposed in a. vertical position, is removably clamped on the running board. From the inner edge of said cradle extends a vertically disposed standard, the upper end of said standard being provided with means whereby it may be anchored to the body or other portion of the vehicle. The outer edge of the cradle, and also the upper portion of the standard are both provided with loop members or other means adapted to be engaged by a trunk strap, and after the trunk is placed on the end in the cradle, a trunkstrap is inserted through said loop members and tightened against the trunk, thereby clamping the trunk readily in position.

lileans are preferably provided whereby the elevation of the loop member on the standard may be regulated to suit the height of the trunk so that the strap will bear against the top of the trunk when tightened.

cans are also preferably provided,-where the device is to be used with a standard tvpe of touring car for clamping the upper end of the standard to the adjacent windshield post, said clamping means being arranged to accommodate itself to the varying angles of inclination of said windshield post.

Where the carrier is to be used with Ford touring cars, the upper end of said standard may be bent downwardly and inwardly to form a hook to engage the top of the left hand false door, the end of the hook being provided with a clamping screw to engage the inner side of said door. 1

lVhere the device to be used in connection with an automobile having an enclosed body, we may provide a bracket which is adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to the body and which is provided with means for engaging the standard.

To adapt our luggage carrier to trunks of different dimensions, we provide means for adjusting the size of the cradle and also the height of the standard.

Other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts will appear from the. following description.

In the accompanying drawings which are however merely intended to illustrate the practical embodiment of the principles of our invention without limiting the scope of the latter to the construction shown, Fig. l is a perspective view of a standard touring car to which our invention has been applied. a trunk being shown mounted and strapped in. place on the luggage carrier; Fig. 2 is a perspective of the carrier shown in Fig. 1. the same being here shown removed: Fig. 3 .is a frontview of the same with a trunk mounted thereon and the means for attaching the cradle to the running board and the standard to the windshield post being also shown; Fig. 4 an enlarged ptuspective showing the means for clamping the cradle to the running board; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in plan showing the means for clamping thestandard to the windshield post; Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective showing the strap loop member which is carried by the standard; Fig. 7 is a plan view and Fig. 8' a broken front view of the cradle showing means for adjusting its dimensions; Fig. 9 is a front view of the carrier applied to the left hand running board of a Ford tour ingcar. the runing board and the false door being shown in vertical section; Fig. 10 is a side view of the luggage carrier adapted to be applied to an automobile having an enclosed body; Fig. 11 is a rear view of the same, the running board and the body of the vehicle being shown in vertical section, and Fig. 12 shows a modification illustrating the vertical standard adapted for attachment to a Dodge windshield post.

The following is a detailed description of the drawings reference being first had to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

A represents the running board of a standard touring car and B one of the windshield posts of the same. said post being shown inclined rearwardly and upwardly, as is usually the case, the angle of inclination varying with different makes of automobiles. The luggage carrier which is shown mounted on the right hand running board of the automobile is formed of strap iron or steel and is of the following general construction. A cradle is formed of the longitudinal bars 1 and the cross bars 2, the latter being superimposed on the former and riveted or bolted thereto as shown at 3. The ends of the bars 1 are vertically upturned to form the toes as at at, and the ends of the bars 2 are vertically upturned to form the toes as at 5, thus forming what may be termed a cradle into which the end of the trunk C is inserted. This cradle is clamped to the running board by means of the angular brackets 6 which are riveted to the front portions of the cross bars 2 and which extend under the running board A, thumb clamping screws 7 being provided to bear up against the under side of the running board, and thereby clamping the cradle rig idly in place, but in such a manner that it can be readily removed when desired. 8 is a cross member superimposed on the members 1 and riveted thereto and of substantially the same length as the cross members 2. The outer end of the member 8 is turned over to form an eye 9 in which is pivotally held the metal strap loop 10. The other end 12 of the member 8 extends upwardly at right angles and is provided with a plurality of bolt holes. 13 is a standard member whose lower end is provided with a plurality of bolt holes 11- so that it may be secured to the end 12 of the member 3 by means of the bolts 15. the plurality of holes in the two elements to be connected enabling the height of the standard 13 to be adjusted. The upper end of the standard 13 is pierced by a bearing hole 16. 17 is a clamp member whose outer end. is reduced to extend through the hole 16 and to be riveted over as at 13 so that the member 17 is swiveled on the upper end of the standard 13 to turn on a horizontal axis. The other end of the clamp member 17 is composed of a fixed clamping jaw 19 and a loose clamping jaw 20 which is held in place by the thumb bolt and nut 21. The clamp 17 engages the windshield post B, the two jaws being placed on either side of the post and the nut tightened on the bolt 21. The swivel connection between the clamp 17 and the upper end of the standard 13 enables the clamp to properly engage a windshield post set at any angle, and it is quite evident that if the carrier be placed on the left, instead of the right, running board, the clamp 17 may be turned into the proper position to engage the other windshield post.

In Fig. 12 we show the standard 13 arranged for attachment to a Dodge windshield post which is set forward relative to the running board. In such cases we may pivotally attach the extension 13 to the upper end of the standard 13 and swivel the clamp 17 thereto. This enables the carrier to be anchored to the windshield post on either side of a Dodge car or any other make of car wherein the windshield post is set unusually far forward.

Slidably mounted on the standard 13 is the bracket member 22 which is formed by bending up the metal to provide a box 23 which slides on the standard. The upper end of the member 22 is bent to extend forwardly, and is provided with a transverse slot 24 to receive the trunk strap, a cylindrical roller 25 being mounted in place to prevent the metal cutting the strap. D is a leather trunk strap or the like, which, after the trunk C is put in position, is inserted through the loop 10 at the front of the cradle and over the roller 25 of the slide member 22, said member being slid down to the top of the trunk. The strap is then tightened, holding the trunk rigidly in position. The trunk can be quickly removed by first loosening and re moving the strap D.

To enable the oracle to be adjusted in size to receive the ends of different sizes of trunks, we may make the longitudinal mem bers 1 adjustable in length as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, wherein said members are shown composed of two portions 1 and 1 the end portion of 1 being off set so as to slide over the end portion of 1 and both portions being provided with a plurality of holes 26 for the insertion of bolts or rivets to give any desired length to the cradle. It is evi dent that in a similar manner the cross mem here 2 and the central cross member 8 may be made adjustable as to length, thus giving any desired width to the cradle.

In Fig. 9 we have shown the luggage carrier adapted for use with a Ford touring car, the false left hand front door of. which is shown at E. In this case the upper end of the standard 13 may be looped as at 27 to receive the ring 28 to which the end of the strap is hooked. 29 is an angular bracket member riveted to the upper portion of the standard 3 and extending downwardly parlit allel to the inside of the door E, a clamping thumb screw being provided to clamp the same against the door. thus anchoring the standard in place. Owing to the relative narrowness of the running board A of a Ford car, the Z shaped bracket 6 is used, being riveted to the under side of the cross members 2 of the cradle and provided with the thumb clamping screws 7 to engage the under side of the running board.

here the luggage carrier is to be used on an automobile having an enclosed body, which body usually swells out laterally and overhangs a portion of the running board, we may provide a bracket 31 having its ends pierced as at 32 so as to be riveted or bolted to the side F of the automobile body as shown in Fig. 10 and 11. The intermediate por tion of said bracket receives the standarc 13 and holds it in place.

In such cases I prefer to omit the front toes 5 of the cross braces 2 as the same would have to extend too far out from the side of the vehicle for safety. I thus am enabled to bend the outer ends of the cross members 2 downwardly and rearwardly so as to extend under the foot board A and provide the same with the thumb clamping screws. In this case, where the transverse members 2 have no upwardly extending front toes 5, we use a horizontal front strap G which engages the slotted brackets 33 attached to the upper ends of the toes 4 of the front longitudinal member 1, which strap spans the front of the trunk and is tightened against the same.

It is quite evident that in the case of a standard touring car, when the trunk is not in place in the carrier, the front door of the car may be opened and closed without obstruction.

It is also evident that when the trunk is in place the rear door is nowise obstructed as would be the case were the trunk carried in a horizontal instead of a vertical position.

In the case of automobiles having closed bodies the carrier is positioned with the vertical standard either in advance of the door or in the rear of the same, so that the standard will not interfere with the use of the door.

The trunk is carried in a vertical position but is rigidly held in place, since it is not only secured at its lower end, but also at its upper end to the standard whose upper end is in turn secured to the vehicle. This prevents an outward sagging of the upper end of the trunk, a tendency which has proven to be a valid objection to luggage carriers now in use wherein the trunk is carried in a vertical position. It also relieves the strain or torque on the running board, which in the case of a light wooden or pressed metal board might be suflicient to break or bend the same.

The trunk may be quickly and easily placed in position on the carrier and removed therefrom, thus adding to the pleasure of touring.

While primarily intended for carrying a trunk it is quite evident that it may be used to carry suit cases and other luggage with equal facility.

Although for the purpose of clearly illustrating the principles of our invention, we have described in detail the embodiment of the same shown in the drawings, we do not wish to limit ourselves thereby, but claim broadly 1. A luggage carrier for motor vehicles comprising a cradle adapted to be secured on the running board and to receive the lower end of a trunk, a vertically disposed standard attached to the inner side of said cradle and extending upwardly along the side of the vehicle body, means for attaching the upper end of the standard directly to the vehicle, and a flexible binding member adapted to engage the front of said 0 adle and the upper portion of said standard and to be tightened about the trunk.

2. A luggage carrier for motor vehicles comprising a cradle formed of crossed bars having their ends upturned to form retaining toes at the ends and sides of the cradle, said cradle being adapted to be secured to the running board and to receive the lower end of a trunk, a vertically disposed standard secured to the inner side of said cradle and extending upwardly along the side of the vehicle body, means for attaching the upper end of the standard to the vehicle, and a flexible member adapted to connect the front of said cradle with the upper portion of said standard and to be tightened about the trunk.

3. A luggage carrier for motor vehicles comprising a cradle formed of crossed bars having their ends upturned to form retaining toes at the ends and sides of. the cradle, said cradle being adapted to be secured to the running board and to receive the lower end of a trunk, a vertically disposed stand ard secured to the inner side of said cradle and extending upwardly along the side of the vehicle body, means for attaching the upper end of the standard to the vehicle, a

loop member secured to the front of the eradle, a second loop member mounted on the standard, and a flexible member adapted to engage said loop members and to be tightened about the trunk.

4. A luggage carrier for motor vehicles comprising a cradle adapted to be secured to the running board and to receive the lower end of a trunk, a standard attached to the inner side of the cradle and extending up 'wardly therefrom, a clamping member swiveled to the upper end of the standard and adapted to engage the windshield post,

&

and means for stretching a flexible binding member about the trunk between the outer side of said cradle and the standard.

5. A luggage carrier for motor vehicles comprising a cradle adapted to be secured to the running board and to receive the lower end of a trunk, a standard attached to the inner side of the cradle and extending upwardly therefrom, a member adapted to be secured to a portion of the vehicle and having a swivel connection with the upper portion of the standard so that said member may be accommodated to the vehicle, and means for stretching a flexible binding member about the trunk between the front side of the cradle and the standard.

6. A luggage carrier for motor vehicles comprising a cradle adapted to be secured on the running board and to receive the lower end of a trunk, means for adjusting the capacity of the cradle to fit diflerent dimensions of trunks, a vertically disposed standard attached to the inner side of said cradle and extending upwardly, connections for attaching the upper end of the stand ard to the vehicle, loop members attached to the front of the cradle and to said standard, and a flexible binding member adapted to engage said loop members and to be tightened about the trunk.

7 A luggage carrier for motor vehicles comprising a cradle adapted to be secured on the running board and to receive the lower end of a trunk, an extensible vertically disposed standard attached to the inner side of said cradle and extending upwardly alongside the body of the vehicle, connections for attaching the upper end of the standard directly to the vehicle, loop members attached to the front of said cradle and to said standard, and a flexible binding member adapted to engage said loop members and to be tightened about the trunk.

Signed at Sharon, Pa., this 28th day of September, 1922.

MARSHALL E. POST. ALBERT H. LAUER. 

